Omar al-Bashir concludes historic first visit to South Sudan

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (L) has pledged to normalise relation with South Sudan Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir returned to Khartoum, on Friday evening, after a historic one-day visit to the capital of South Sudan, Juba. Bashir concluded the visit by holding a joint press conference with his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir Mayardit, in which both leaders pledged to resume dialogue, and to implement the cooperation agreements without any preconditions.
Speaking at Khartoum International Airport, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Karti explained that there had been an agreement between Khartoum and Juba on the composition of a higher ministerial committee, headed by vice-presidents of the two countries, to consider completing the implementation of the previous agreements, and to address the outstanding issues, such as the issue of the disputed Abyei region and the arrangements for the demarcation of the borders.
In Khartoum, member of the Political Bureau of the \"National Congress \" party Dr. Rabie Abdelati,
Meanwhile, Dr Rabie Abdelati Obeid, a prominent member of Sudan\'s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) told Arabstoday that there had been \"a full normalisation of bilateral relations,\" after Bashir\'s announcement about opening the border crossings with the South.
He accused Sudan People\'s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) of trying to jeapordise Bashir\'s visit to South Sudan, by launching rocket attacks on Kaduqli, the capital of the state of South Kordofan.
In Juba, Minister of Information in the Cabinet of South Sudan, Barnaba Marial Benjamin said that Bashir\'s visit is likely to lead to several positive outcomes, pointing to the fact that had agreed to embrace dialogue and enhance relations.
At the press conference in Juba, Bashir said: \"Sudan is keen to implement cooperation with the State of the South, for the return of peace and stability of the two countries,\" denying reports that Sudanese military had been deployed on the border with South Sudan.
The Sudanese president added that \"dialogue will continue to resolve the remaining issues, outlining his country\'s willingness to quash any rebel groups, and to strengthen stability in the neighbouring countries.
President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, reiterated his support for dialogue and told reporters: \"The visit of the Sudanese President will push relations between the two countries in the direction of full normalisation,\" and confirmed that his country\'s oil will be exported abroad through Sudanese territory in the near future.
Sudanese President Bashir arrived in South Sudan on Friday, marking his first visit to the country since it’s emancipation from the north in 2011.
In an interview on Sudanese state radio, Minister of State at the Presidency of Sudan, Amin Hassan Omar, denied reports that Bashir was under any pressure to visit Juba, claiming that the visit is the first real opportunity for political action between the two parties.
Sudan\'s Minister of Information, Ahmed Bilal Osman told journalists that the president\'s visit to Juba comes at suitable a time, after the signing of cooperation agreements between the two countries in Addis Ababa last month. He added that \"the visit aims to break the barrier of distrust and to implement the agreements.\"
Despite the positive atmosphere, several Sudanese analysts have cited issues that remain the subject of controversy and disagreement, including agreement on the oil-rich area of Abyei and some border areas. Sudan and South Sudan also face challenges of external debt, which is expected to reach $45.6bn, by the end of 2013. The economic challenge has forced the Sudanese government to form a joint committee with the South to lead efforts towards debt relief with creditors.
However, the recent statements by head of the International Monetary Fund [IMF] delegation in Khartoum, Edward Gemayel, may hinder the two parties in their aim, with Gemayel claiming that Sudan would not be exempt form its external debt unless it can convince the 55 countries part of the Paris Club.